In September 2018, Chinese humanist photographer Xu Xuehan’s bilingual photography monograph Seize the Moment: From Amsterdam to Dubrovnik, published by the China National Photographic Art Publishing House, was awarded the Phoenix TV Award for Outstanding Photography Book at the 2018 Pingyao International Photography Festival.

As one of the most internationally recognized photography festivals in China, the Pingyao International Photography Festival brings together leading photographers and publishing institutions from around the world, playing a vital role in the promotion and development of contemporary Chinese photography.

This monograph features a curated selection of Xu’s black-and-white documentary works created over four separate trips through Europe from 2014 to 2017. Traveling across nine countries and over fifty cities and towns, Xu captures historical landmarks, quiet rural moments, and bustling urban scenes—revealing his enduring commitment to documenting humanity through the fleeting yet powerful moment.

Seize the Moment is more than a photographic travelogue; it reflects the artist’s profound exploration of the tension between present reality and historical memory. Designed in a bilingual format (Chinese and English), the book is accessible to a global audience, underscoring Xu’s artistic vision and international perspective.

Receiving the Phoenix TV Award is not only a recognition of Xu Xuehan’s unique visual language and the book’s exceptional production quality, but also a testament to the expressive power and cultural significance of Chinese photography on the world stage.